All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S RELUCTANT BRIDE : Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

EVANGELINE"Careful, wifey. Keep testing me and I'll show you exactly how dark my bad side can get!”The endearment sent heat racing through my veins.“We don't want to see my bad side, do we?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.My gaze wandered across his face before settling on the darkness of his agitated eyes.The challenge in his voice only fueled the fire burning inside me. There was something almost predatory in the way he watched me, waiting for my response, expecting me to back down. Instead, I felt my spine straighten with defiance."Actually, we do!" I crossed my arms over my chest, raising both eyebrows in deliberate challenge.The sight of his tense jawline should have been intimidating, should have made me reconsider my words and retreat to safer ground. Instead, it only made me more determined to push his boundaries, to see exactly how far I could go before he snapped. There was something thrilling about being the one person who could crack this control freak.My

EVANGELINEI yanked open the passenger door and slid inside.Gael was slouched in the driver's seat, his dark gaze trained on the burning yacht with satisfaction. The sight made my stomach turn, confirming my worst suspicions about his involvement in this disaster.His posture was relaxed, almost casual, as if he was watching a mildly interesting movie."Tell me it wasn't you." My voice was barely controlled despite my efforts to remain calm.Gael stayed silent.I searched his face desperately for some sign of denial, some indication that my suspicions were wrong, that the man I had married wasn't capable of such calculated destruction."Please tell me you didn't do this. Tell me you couldn't possibly be this reckless."My voice cracked slightly on the last word, betraying the depth of my distress. I needed him to deny it, to give me some explanation that would make sense of this nightmare. Instead, his hand moved to start the engine and pulled away from the marina at a speed that mad

EVANGELINETime slipped away quickly, and before I knew it, Mr. Whitmore's daughter's wedding had arrived.I chose a long white dress with a slit that extended to mid-thigh. The dress was elegant without being ostentatious, appropriate for a wedding while still making me feel beautiful.I gathered my hair into a sophisticated updo, securing it with carefully chosen accessories that caught the light when I turned my head. Light makeup completed the look - just enough to enhance my features without overwhelming them.I was putting the finishing touches on my appearance when I heard approaching footsteps. The sound made my heart race in anticipation but managed to keep my expression neutral.Our marriage had become so filled with unspoken desires and unacknowledged truths.When I turned to face him, our eyes met and held for a long moment. Each of us took in the other's appearance with obvious appreciation, the air between us crackling with the same electricity that had been building for

EVANGELINEWe exchanged tense looks across the small space between us.Seraphina's eyes held the same viciousness while Ophelia seemed to be playing the role of innocent facilitator."Is everything alright?" Ophelia had obviously noticed the charged atmosphere, her gaze bouncing between our faces.I turned my attention to Gael, checking his reaction. His jaw was clenched tight, but he kept his stoic expression while his arms remained around me, if anything tightening their hold.I tried to pull away from his embrace, suddenly self-conscious. Instead of releasing me, he drew me closer, pressing my chest firmly to his body in a clear display of ownership.Seraphina's face twisted with jealousy then she let out a sarcastic laugh that grated on my nerves."It seems they don't appreciate my presence." She spoke to Ophelia while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.I rested my cheek on Gael's chest, drawing strength from his solid presence while offering Seraphina an innocent smile that

EVANGELINEThe next morning arrived with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to my skull.My eyelids weighed a ton, and my head throbbed with a pain that killed any chance of waking up peacefully.I dragged myself upright, each movement sending sharp spikes through my skull.My hand went to my head, rubbing circles that did nothing to ease the ache"God, my head is killing me."I blinked heavily and surveyed the room with growing confusion.The other side of the mattress was cold, which meant Gael wasn't here and hadn't been for some time.I blinked again, trying desperately to piece together the events of the previous evening.My memory felt like a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing.The last clear memory I could summon was Gael walking away with Mr. Whitmore, leaving me alone at that cocktail table. Everything after that point existed in a hazy fog.The sound of the door opening drew my attention.Gael came out of the bathroom. His entire torso was bare except for a pair of c